Who here brings their own candy or drinks into the movies and how would you analyze this ethically.

Question

Is sneaking booze in less ethical than bringing in non-alcohol items or more ethical given that the theater doesn't sell booze.

Answer 1

When goin to the movies, the tickets can already clear out my wallet and paying more on high priced food and drinks seems silly. So i bring in my own little snacks and drinks. With that it keeps me eating healthier, without falling into spurlge nights. Though of all the benefits i get for sneaking in my products if you think about it, it is unethical. The movie is loosing its food and drink customers obviously loosing profits and it is unethical to steal that away. the very fact that we have to sneak it in simply justifies itself as wrong- they make the rules for a reason. And when it comes to alcohol, it could become a danger to everyone if something were to happen. Most of any public places wont let you bring in your own alchol especailly public places that don't serve it. The fact on ethical no, it's more than less but it is looked down upon when it comes to cursity.  

Answer 2

the movie theatre food is bloody expensive, so morally i see no problem with it. It is just a sensible way to save money.

Answer 3

I would NEVER bring in alcohol.  Since movie theaters don't have liqur licenses they would be VERY unforgiving if you brought in alcohol and you may never get to come back.

I bring in a soda when I go to the movies because I don't like fountain drinks and even if I did, they don't have what I like.  I have also brought in candy on a few occasions, but I don't usually like to eat during movies.  My mouth gets dry or sticky or something and I'm stuck smacking my lips rahter than enjoying the movies.  So I guess its not really a moral issue with me.   Its more of a comfort thing.

If I want popcorn, I do buy from the theater, overpriced as it is.  Hey, they have to make a living too.  

Answer 4

The only ethical issue here is that the theater belongs to whoever owns it and they get to make the rules about what you can bring in.  The fact that they don't sell booze doesn't change anything.

Answer 5

I see nothing wrong with it as long as you don't leave a mess or get disorderly. You are not stealing anything you are just breaking a rule in place so that people should  have to buy the movie snacks- which are very unhealthyy and very expensive. The alcohol rule is in place for legal purposes, not because of any moral issue.

Ethically it is fine.

Answer 6

Take my own snacks and non-alcoholic drinks into the movies.  I see no ethical dilema in it.  I don't sneak into the movie.  I always pay for my admission.  But the concession stand prices are outrageous and I refuse to pay them when I can buy my own stuff from 7-11 for 1/3 of the price.  If booze is your thing, go ahead and take that in too.  Just hide it well because you'll likely be banned if you get caught.

Answer 7

hey i bring my own snacks and stuff. i say bring the drinks, but where a jacket to hide and open them in, that way ur not caught

Answer 8

I would say it is pretty ethical considering movie theaters are so expensive. Besides if I just bring something from home chances are it will have less packaging, which is better for the environment...so that's pretty ethical! I would never bring in alcohol,  what would the point of that would be?

Answer 9

Interesting question, you should probably cite the source.

I think that they are both equally ethical and the movie theater is the one acting unethically.  Don't confuse ethics with legality here.  Just because something is within the rules does not make it ethical.  Movie theaters (ball parks, stadiums, etc) create mini-monopolies by disallowing outside food / beverages to enter.  They create an environment where hungry and thirsty people MUST pay exorbitant amounts of money for tiny snacks that outside cost a fraction of the price.

So I ask YOU, where is the ethics in that?  Its not ethical, but it is legal and quite profitable.

Answer 10

Movie theatres do things a certain way for a reason.  We are all aware of the rules when we go, and it could easily be argued that we implicitly agree to abide by those rules when we buy a ticket.  Is it ethical, then, to break your word?  To harm someone (or at least not help them) who provides a service for you which you desire?

The answers to these questions will, of course, depend on the ethical system you use.  Some systems are completely indifferent to the welfare of others or to agreements which aren't enforced by the strongest means possible.  If you adhere to one of these, then there is no problem at all.

You'll note how many people rationalize their behaviour in this thread alone.  This suggests that they accept that what they are doing is a violation of their other ideals (or they wouldn't have to justify the behaviour at all) and it says what ideals they are holding higher than the ones stated above.  Convenience.  Personal profit.  The notion that it is not really harmful.

Certainly Kant would have found that last to be a poor one.  If NOBODY bought the overpriced foods at the theatres, there would be no point to providing them.  And there have been many theatre moguls who even suggest that those things provide the bulk of their profit... the wisdom for movie theatre location is actually, "Find a good location for a popcorn stand and build a theater around it."

Answer 11

ever since movies have been around, people have been sneaking stuff in, whether legal or not...whether ethical or not. and now, more so than ever, the expense to see a movie is almost enough to make you not want to go...heath ledger or no. i say bring it in, if you  can do it! do you really think it's ethical to charge as much as they do for not only the ticket itself but the c**p they try and sell you?

Answer 12

I do I sneak in potato crisps and bottles of soda but it has to do more with the fact that I don't want to spend $5 on popcorn.  

The movies are meant for family entertainment so booze is not really appropriate